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Australia Orangutan

2012 One Dollar

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The 2012 Zoo Animals Series follows on from the success of the Ocean, Land and Air series. The Zoo Animals series was released to coincide with the 150th anniversary of the Melbourne Zoo. (Royal Australian Mint, 2012) The series encompasses six, uncirculated coins, each depicting a unique exotic animal that can be found at the Melbourne Zoo; the Goodfellow's Tree Kangaroo, Sumatran Tiger, Orang-utan, Western Lowland Gorilla, Southern Corroboree Frog, and Asian Elephant.

The series was periodically released in pairs throughout the year in specially design cards. The Orangutan was part of the final release, alongside the Goodfellow's Tree Kangaroo. There are two species of Orangutan, the Bornean and Sumatran, both can be found in forests where they consume wild fruits and nest in trees. Both have also experienced dangerous population declines with the Bornean Orangutan listed as endangered and the Sumatran critically endangered. (World Wildlife Fund, 2017)

Using a colour/pad printing process, the Mint perfectly captures the colours of this species. The reverse was created by first striking the coin with a very detailed relief then applying coloured ink to further enhance the design. (Royal Australian Mint, 2008) The result is eye-catching with precise, vivid details and intense colour, paying artistic homage to this stunning species. The obverse features Ian Rank-Broadley's image of Queen Elizabeth II.